New Portobello High School - PPAG Judicial Review

[Porty]

Beautifully put lg1726 . Me and my family lived a similar portobello existence to yours albeit for 40 plus years. Your opinion and right to express that opinion is equally valid. Furthermore, if a council tax payer living in Saughton with no Porty connection, wants to have a say about how his money's being spent, then that's also valid.

I'm afraid Mark Dickson and Sheila Coventry, let themselves and PPAG down. Bet they are the sort to complain if someone parks on "their" space on a public highway.

[Pal of Porty]

Do not get fooled by PPAG trying to throw in yet another irrelevant sidetrack - they are devoid of facts and rational arguments when it comes to the key issues and have no other option than to re-focus the debate on unrelated aspects.

[Chas]

Why on earth are we even discussing who's lived here for how many years? My family might be the longest serving in Portobello - we've been here since at least 1823 - and I'm not about to disregard anyones opinion just cos they've been here for less time! This is about building a school for the benefit of those who are here NOW AND IN THE FUTURE!

[rmolehusband]

[Bob Jefferson]

Incomers of Portobello unite! You have nothing to lose but your xenophobic neighbours. Seriously, there are some very ugly undertones to this 'incomer' stuff. And it's not confined to the internet.

[Bob Jefferson]

[Porty]

Don't think Mark Dickson runs the Blue Bean any longer, leases it out. I'm genuinely surprised and disappointed by his stance on this. I didn't have hin down as dolium volvitur.

[Bob Jefferson]

Can't recall whether Blue Bean have one of our posters or not. Reds certainly do and are very pro-school. And Alvaro at Malvarosa signed the petition. Scranary have a poster. Most of the locally-owned shops in fact.

[rmolehusband]

[lg1726]

Ah now if all the incomers united, we would make up a fair chunk of this community. I have to say that i for one am very saddened by all this issue of incomers. We chose to move her as we thought it to be a welcoming and inclusive place to live. We are not a "traditional" family and felt that this would not be an issue and our son then starting PHS in S1 would not have the same difficulties he might have faced elsewhere and i feel so sorry that this sort of attitude may serve to erode this positive vibe.

On the subject of the Blue Bean we have been boycotting it since we were subject to the full on views of the current incumbent on migrant and immigrants and we left to collect our youngest, mixed race son and have not been back since!

[Porty]

[lg1726]

Never been in and never will now - thanks Porty!

[rmolehusband]

[Porty]

[lg1726]

I kind of like the "earthy" feel to Porty and as a relative newcomer, (12 years) am still refreshed by all for the most part! Like i said, as a more "alternative" member of the community i have always been made welcome and i do hope that rmolehusband that you are right and all this will settle with the dust. I do hope so as it is a great place to live and to bring up kids, with a better high school of course!

[seanie]

[Bob Jefferson]

For me, the school on the park issue is a bit of a litmus test for the Greens. I would love to be able to vote for them but their thinking lacks maturity on this showing. As I've said before, saving green space is a noble aspiration but it should not be an end in itself. Sometimes, as on this occasion, there are overwhelming reasons to justify the sacrifice for the greater good of the community. You can't just say 'no, go away and find an alternative' when no viable alternative exists. Then again, it's easy to make such gestures when you are never going to be in a position to actually have to make the tough decisions.

Have a word with him Peter or it will cost you votes. No-one here is going to buy this line of it all being the Council's fault. The community is united against a small group of people who are thwarting the will of the majority and making a mockery of democracy.

[Sceptic]

This whole matter is getting nasty and personal. Both sides accusing each other of underhand tactics and personal attacks. As I have said, PPAG have the right to dispute matters in the courts. Should the Council pursue PPAG in the courts for their costs? Should other groups do likewise?
Whatever the outcome, the Portobello Community Council has shown itself not fit for purpose. Their stance of "neutrality" only led to the current civil war existing between the parties. When leadership was needed, they stayed below the parapet.
All they have done is make Portobello a laughing stock.

[seanie]

Oh it's not that bad.

[Puerto bella]

I would like to see a different approach being taken to what we know as the community council. Some different form of citizens panel is clearly needed here to shake things up - a regular rotation of duties, a cross section of ages/ backgrounds/ involvement in order to involve many rather than the few - a wider representation. A commitment to eradicate the bind of 3 hour long meetings, long minutes, bulky agendas and the like. A complete re-think as clearly what is best for Portobello cannot be decided any longer by the current approach. Why could there not be a rotation of panels - a much larger group from all sectors of Portobello divided into smaller panels with limits as to the number of things you can serve on so that things are kept fresh. A presumption in favour of making things happen instead of saying no. Working with the council rather than against them - a new start - or am I living on another planet?

[Puerto bella]

....and I forgot to add - a fully interacitve web site and a citizens panel app, tweets for updates, facebook etc - why has it not embraced social media - more people would get involved if it were less cumbersome.

[Makaveli]

Your right PB - we would love to get more involved but having young kids and jobs leaves little spare time for us to give.

I know plenty other folk in the same boat as us who have no time to get involved but have just as relevant opinion as those with plenty time of their hands.

[Mark Cameron]

Totally agree PB. There's a Facebook page - portobello high street - where the kind of ideas you mention are being talked about and a meeting being planned for next week to explore initial ideas. We need to be a community who work together to embrace the changes that will make this a better place to live, grow up, visit and earn a living rather being seen as a change averse bunch of NIMBYs.

[Puerto bella]

Thanks Mak and McDB - I'm not loopy then.
Its me - I started the Fb page Portobello High St - you've obviously not made the link. I thought most folk on here knew who I was in real life lol.

[Mark Cameron]

Nope - but I do now

Makaveli - I know what you mean about finding time and that's why I've said on TP a number of times that I take my hat off to those who give up their time and serve on the CC. Perhaps something good will come out of next weeks meeting and we can find a way for engaging a significant majority in a positive way that will enable good things to happen without all the 'red tape'.

[seanie]

I certainly think there needs to be a long hard look at just how we're represented as a community, in particular the role the Community Council should play in that, but also what other mechanisms might be available. But it might need the dust to settle on this issue a bit to get some perspective.

[Puerto bella]

I dont think its going to settle, the ball is rolling and it cant be stopped. People are upset and that wont settle easily.

[seanie]

[seanie]

[storky]

Not sure if anyone else has posted the PHS Report that will be discussed at tomorrows full council meeting. In any case here is the link:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/me ... igh_school

I've only had time for a quick scan, but two things stand out:

1. section 3.24 It appears that the council are not going to insist on PPAG to put up a bond prior to the appeal.

2. section 3.50 If the council were to given the 'green light' to the contractor by tomorrow the school could be open by Jan 2014.

I've been pushing for the council to build for the past few weeks, without considering the appeal, given there is no risk. Quite a few responded with the same opinion. It seems now their opinions have shifted slightly.

[seanie]

With a court date being set so soon (getting one in May is pretty astonishing given the pace of things in the Inner House usually) it's very difficult to justify just proceeding because it wouldn't be at no risk, just minimal risk. Exposing themselves to any risk, when the alternative is hopefully no more than a few weeks delay, is hard to square.

[Franck]

Just to return to the latin slant, but keeping on topic, Ope Et Consilio,sing it high and sing it low, sing it wherever you go....do they still sing that dirge?

Oh, and evidence of my Porty credentials can be found in the following line.

YPR ya bas.

[Porty]

I always thunk Bas was spelt Bass!

[storky]

[Betty Windsor]